Process of and apparatus for coloring fabric



H. W. LAMB PROCESS OF AND APPARATUS FOR COLORING FAgRIC Filed Sept. '7, 1922 Patented Dec. 16, 1924.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HERBERT W. LAMB, OF LAGRANGE, INDIANA, ASSIGNOR TO FRANK E. ROZELLE, OF LAGBANGE, INDIANA.

PROCESS OF AND APPARATUS FOR COLORING FABRIC.

Application filed September 7, 1922. Serial No. 586,566.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HERBERT W. LAMB, a citizen of the United States, residing at Lagrange, in the county of Lagrange and State of Indiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Processes of and Apparatus for Coloring Fabric, of

pable of permanently withstanding exposure to light and other agencies tending to fade the same.

It is known that certain coloring matter may be made fast by applying the same to the fabric while heated, or by using a mordant, but such processes are more or less uneconomical and attended with considerable inconvenience in the performance thereof.

In my improved process I contemplate applying the coloring matter to the tapestry or other fabric with a brush in the desired design, or by other approved means, without first heating the said coloring matter. After the coloring matter has been allowed to dry or set, the fabrics are placed in a press with dampened absorbent material, such as blotting paper, interposed be tween the pieces of colored fabric, care be- .ing exercised in arranging the materials in such manner that the application of pres sure thereto will be substantially uniform throughout the colored area thereof, and that wrinkles are eliminated. The absorbent material should be dampened with water or by a chemical solution which may be found to be of advantage under certain conditions, such moisture acting as a solvent for or to soften the coloring matter when the fabric is subjected to heat and pressure; but such moisture must not be in such quantity that the coloring matter-will become so fluid as to spread and destroy the design able door capable of being tightly sealed,

pressure is gradually applied to the material by tighteningthe press, which is provided with a screw stem having an actuating handle or wheel exterior of said heater. Heat, preferably by means of steam, is admitted to the heater during the pressure treatment, thepressure being increased gradully during the process. After an interval of such application of heat and pressure it will be found that the fibres of the fabrics so treated will have become thoroughly impregnated with the coloring matter, which will be capable of resisting the fading effects of light and cleansing operations.

In the accompanying drawing I have illustrated diagrammatically one form of ap paratus for carrying out my process, but it will be understood that I do not restrict myself to the use of this particular arrangement.

In the drawing-- 10 is a heater communicating through pipe 11 with a suitable sourcenot shown of steam or the like, said pipe being provided with a regulating valve 11. An exhaust conduit 12, having a valve 13, is also provided for permitting the heating fluid to escape from the heater when desired. A supporting base 14 is provided for supporting the layer of colored fabric 15 with the interposed layers of absorbent material 16 during the pressing and heating treatment.

The fabric and absorbent materials may be arranged on the support 14 prior to the in sertion of the latter into the heater, if desired. A pressing plate 17 is carried and actuated by means of a threaded stem 18, which is provided with a manually operable wheel 19, or the like, exterior of said heater, as shown. When the fabric and absorbent materials are positioned under plate 17, upon the support 14, the door 20 of the heater 10 is closed, and heated vapor or steam under pressure, as may be found more desirable, is admitted to the heater through pipe 11 by crease the pressure on the material being treated, which pressure, co-operating with the action of the heating fluid and the moisture of the absorbent materials 16, causes the coloring matter to soften or go into solution and forces the same thoroughly into the pores of the fabric.

In order that the pressure may be properly applied throughout the coloring rocess I provide a pressure gauge 8 adapte to indicate the pressure exerted on the fabric by the actuation of the wheel 19. The gauge ma be positioned on the top of heater 10 an communicates through with coacting compress 1e diaphragms 9,

9 which are interposed between the plate 17 and stem 18 as shown. The chamber formed by the said diaphragms 9, 9 is filled and with fluid, which is displaced in quantities proportional to the applied pressure, such displacement being effected through'the tube 8. Suitable mechanism. (not shown) of the gauge 8 is actuated by the displaced fluid to indicate, by means of the pointer 8", the

pressure applied to the fabric.

It will e seen that the rapidity with which the colorin matter is caused to go mto solution may controlled by the operator by regulating the application of pressure to the fabric or fabrics being treated, and that with my process the coloring matter will be caused to enter the pores of the fabric become permanently fixed or fast without running or impairing the design in which it was applied.

After the coloring matter has been subjected to the above described treatment over a sufliclent period, the valve lP-is closed and the heating fluid permitted to escape through conduit 12, and the fabric removed from the heater.

It will be obvious that my process is economical and is more convenientthan the use of mordants in fixing the colors or in the application to the fabric of the colors while heated. It will also be, obvious that various changes may be made in the above descrlbe'd mvent1on wlthout departing from the spirit thereof; and I do not, therefore, w sh to be restricted to the specific steps de scribed, exce t where limitations appear in the a pende claims,

Icaim: 1. Theprocess of coloring fabrics or the like, which consists in ap lying color to said fabrics, arranging sai colored fabric a flexible tube 8 between layers of moistened absorbent material, and thereafter applying heat to said fabric and said absorbent material.

2. .The' process of coloringfabrics or the like, which consists in applying coloring matter thereto, arranging said colored {fabric between layers of absorbent material,

and thereafter applying pressure to said fabric and said absorbent-material.

3. The process of coloring fabrics, which consists in applying colorin matter thereto without first heatin sai coloring matter, arranging said co ored fabric between layprs of porous materials, and thereafter su jecting said fabric and porous materials to heat and pressure.

'4. The process of coloring fabrics, which consists in applying unheated coloring matter thereto, arranging said colored fabric between la ers of moistened porous material, and thereafter subjecting said fabric and rous materials to heat and pressure.

5. e recess of coloring fabrics or the like, whic consists in 'pplying unheated color matter thereto, p acing said colored fabric m a heater between layers of moistened' porous materials, and thereafter subjecting said fabric and porous materials to, 4

heat and gradually increasing pressure.

6. The process of coloring fabrics, which consists in applying coloring matter thereto, arranging said colored fabric between layers of moistened porous material, and thereafter subjecting said fabric and porous materials to heat and varying pressure.

7. The process of treating colored fabrics or the like, which consists in arranging said fabric between layers of -moistened porous material, subjecting said fabric and porous material to pressure and heat, and varying lslaid pressure during the application of said eat.

8. The'process of treating colored fabrics l or the like, which consists in arranging said fabric between layers of moistened porous material, subjecting said fabric and porous .-material to varylng' pressure in a heater,

and admitting a heatlng fluid thereto during the pressing operation.

9. The process 0 coloring fabrics, which consists in applying developed coloring matter thereto, and thereafter rendering said colors fast by simultaneously subjectthe colors thereof.

11. The process of coloring fabric or the like, which consists in applying coloring matter'thereto and thereafter treating said fabric to fix the color thereof, said treatment comprising the application of varylike which consists in applying coloring ing pressure to said fabric. matter thereto applying moisture to said 10 12. The process of coloring fabric or the colored fabric and thereafter applying heat like,. which consists in applying coloring thereto. =3 matter thereto, applying moisture to said In testimony whereof, I have subscribed colored fabric and thereafter applying my name. pressure thereto. I

13. The process of coloring fabric or the HERBERT W. LAMB. 

